Submitted photo | Chance Davis
Pictured is a gold Ford Ranger which was driven by Tennis Maynard, the alleged shooter of Mingo County Sheriff Eugene Crum. The truck was stopped on a bridge in Delbarton by law enforcement officials, who drove the black SUV.
Julia Roberts Goad
Staff Writer
DELBARTON — The man authorities believe shot Mingo County Sheriff Eugene Crum to death has been caught and shot in Delbarton after a high speed pursuit.
Witnesses say the suspect, after shooting Crum as he sat in his car, fled the scene, driving toward Delbarton.
Eyewitnesses in Delbarton said a gold Ford Ranger pickup truck was traveling south on state Route 65 through the town, followed by an unmarked police car. The pickup drove up between the former BB&T bank building and the building that houses the Ideal Barbershop and toward a bridge, in the direction of Ragland. The police stopped the pickup by forcing it into the side of a bridge. Witnesses say Mingo County Sheriff’s Department Corporal N. Mines approached the vehicle and shots were fired. Mines said the suspect pulled a gun. The driver of the pickup was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Logan. His condition remains unknown.
The Williamson Police Department told the Daily News the suspect’s name is Tennis Maynard of Ragland.
Crum, who took office at the beginning of the year, has led an effort dubbed Zero Tolerance. His crusade to address the drug problem in the county has brought a lot of attention to the sheriff. A motive for the murder has yet to be determined.
Without a doubt you must surely have lost a good man. To think that he's only been in office and seemingly doing a great job, and just being killed like this is inhuman.
Was glad that a suspect has been apprehended. I was in law enforcement for near 40 years and learned that you can trust no one. It is hard not to bet paranoi. Sort of like a sickness to the point that your thoughts are to discourage feeling that way.
I hope and pray that the community gets someone just as devoted as your Sheriff appears to have been. I will keep him and his in my prayers.